Max

I introduced myself to Max during one of my initial ‘tours’ of the mill.

Wandering, with intent, is a favored strategy for better understanding the environment within my work life.

Max was sitting on a stool in front of his ‘space’ in the instrument shop, which was arranged with a countertop along one wall and multiple stations with electrical and pneumatic connections for checking instrumentation and control valves.

The countertop space also served as his lunch counter.

Like others his space was personalized.

Being new to the mill, I was obliged to introduce myself to my fellow employees as I toured the facilities, and this tour was no exception.

Max had been watching me when I entered the shop and his eyes never left me as I progressed through the few technicians in the shop, most were out in the field.

Eventually my progress placed me squarely in front of Max, whose stare was, I’m sure, disconcerting to most.

“Hi, I’m Sam”, extending my right hand out to shake. “The new maintenance manager.”

Without a smile or change in facial expression he responded, “Max”, as he shook my hand.

“So, Max, tell me a little about yourself. I like to get to know the folks I’m working with, just kinda makes it easier in the future, you know?”

This mill had recently experienced a work strike and had kept operating with existing supervisory and exempt employees and imported salaried employees from other mills within the corporation, so responses to questions like the one posed could often be met with a certain degree of hostility, or not.

“What does your day typically look like, for example.” Keeping my eyes in contact with his.

“I’ve been here 15 years, as an instrument technician. Received my instrumentation training in the Air Force, mostly electronics and hydraulics. You will get about two hours per day of real work out of me, no more, no less.” Max replied with a stern, straight face.

While I probably displayed some sort of tell tale I tried to show no surprise or change in expression and responded, “Kind of depends upon what you produce in those two hours doesn’t it?

“I mean, I’ve seen people busy all day and never accomplishing their assigned task, so if you are saying you get done in two hours what your supervisor has assigned as your daily task, then I’d say that was an accomplishment.” I smiled.

Now, displaying a bit of a twinkle in his eyes, “Just saying, don’t expect me to be busting my ass like the other monkey’s in this department sometimes do in front of the boss just to impress. You’ll get two hours from me, every day, and I do not do overtime, of any kind.”

and I do not do overtime, of any kind

“Thanks for letting me know Max”, extending my hand, “I’m sure we will have many, many discussions in the future.”

Max, I suspected, after that introduction, would be a person that would readily express his feelings and thoughts about many contentious issues based solely upon his personal values and beliefs and not so much by his association with groups or cliques.

As I found during the years working in that mill, Max used sound judgement when analyzing a problem or issue and as such was one of many used as a sounding post for new ideas as well as a source of supporting or enlightening thoughts.

Considering his trade, e.g., instrumentation (although officially he was classified as E&I) his primary task was to observe, for example, the current conditions of an instrument loop, understand the expected functional response and evaluate the real performance then determine what failure mode was preventing proper performance of the loop, and lastly, initiate correction of that failure.

an analytical process many of us should use

An analytical process many of us should use and one he was conditioned to use daily as a technician.

Max was an invaluable source of information and insight.

Years later, having accepted a position with more responsibility in a larger facility I made my rounds saying farewell to all my work colleagues.

Max was sitting in his usually ‘station’ when I approached.

“Sam, I hear you are leaving us, just when I was getting to appreciate you.” A smile on his otherwise stoic face.

Shaking his hand, “Yep couldn’t turn down the opportunity.”

“Well, I wanted you to know, I don’t know how you did it, but you are now getting four full hours of my time every day, and I’ve worked a bit of overtime, during shutdowns, but don’t tell anyone, I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

Trusting relationships provide unheralded results.